Over the past few weeks, Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao has been linked with moves to Manchester City, Chelsea and newly promoted Ligue 1 side AS Monaco. More recently,both Manchester City and Monaco were reported to have met the Colombia international’s buyout clause, which appears to be anywhere between $75 and $82 million, but Falcao has yet to agree tomove anywhere. In fact, when asked whether he would remain at Atletico next season, the prolific striker replied, “I hope so.”
However, Atletico CEO Miguel AngelGil-Marin might beg to differ. In an interview with AS on Monday, Gil-Marin insisted the club is in Falcao’s corner: “Before the start of the season we spoke with Falcao andpromised him that if he kept up the same performances and helped us to qualify for the Champions League, Atletico would help him,” he said. “Whatever decisions he makes, Atletico will be with him.”
Unless, perhaps, that decision is to stay. Atletico, which has a tremendous debt hanging over its head, could badly use the money from a Falcao sale. In fact, during the interview, Gil-Marinpointed out that the club has a fantastic track record of replacing high-profile strikers: “We know how to replace a good forward,” he said, referring to the successful sales ofFernando Torres, Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero in the past.
Meanwhile, complicating matters is the rumor that Atletico received help from a third-partywhen it signed the player from FC Porto in 2011 for $60 million.